Woulfe is a Hiberno-Norman name long established in the south-west of Ireland.
Where does the Woulfe name come from?
Woulfe is a name brought to Ireland by the Normans, from a nickname or personal name based on the wolf, a creature admired for its fierceness. The family became thoroughly Irish, and the name was rendered in Gaelic as de Bhulbh. It is closely related to the name Wolfe.
Woulfe in Ireland
The Woulfes settled in counties Limerick and Kildare, and became established as a Hiberno-Norman family of the south-west. The name is remembered through Father Patrick Woulfe, the scholar whose great work on Irish names and surnames remains a standard reference. As a settled Hiberno-Norman name, Woulfe is found today across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Related Irish family names
You may also like Wolfe, White, and Barry.
Carry the Woulfe name with you
We craft heritage gifts for thousands of Irish and Scottish family names — mugs, woven blankets, ornaments and more. To find yours, type it into the search bar at the top of the page, or browse the Woulfe collection here.
Frequently asked questions
Is Woulfe an Irish surname?
Yes — Woulfe is a Hiberno-Norman Irish surname, long established in Limerick and Kildare, Gaelicised as de Bhulbh.
What does Woulfe mean?
It comes from a Norman nickname or personal name based on the wolf.
Is there a Woulfe family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions; the crest and tartan artwork on our Woulfe products is created as decorative heritage artwork to celebrate the name.
